The Beast in Him
Page 88
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Chapter 29
Smitty stood in front of the Kingston Arms. He couldnt seem to track his little wild dog down, and she wasnt answering her cell phone. He had to find her. Hed make her take his apology, although he still wasnt sure what hed done wrong. And once he had all that settled, hed take her to the Ritz-Carlton tonight. Get her the best room his credit card could afford and hed make her his. Hed do this right. Shed never regret being his.
Shes gone.
Turning around, Smitty stared at Johnny DeSerio.
What do you mean shes gone?
She left.
Went back to the den? Or the Long Island house?
Neither. The Pack has this little house in Jersey. The adults little love shack when they need some away time from the pups.
Where is it?
The boy shrugged.
You dont know?
Oh, I know. Im just not telling you.
Smitty had his hand around the boys throat and had him slammed against the wall in less time than it took to say Ow.
Listen up close, boy, cause Ill only say this once. These dogs may protect you, but Im wolf. Just like you. And we both know Ill rip the flesh from your bones if you dont tell me what I wanna know.
A delicate throat clearing had Smitty looking over his shoulder even as he tightened his grip a bit more on the boys throat.
Kristan smiled up at him. Take your hand off his throat, she said softly.
If this had been one of the adults, he would have ignored them, but sweet little Kristan... well, he simply didnt have the heart. So, grudgingly, he let the boy go.
Here. She took hold of his hand and wrote on his palm with a pink felt-tip pen that had a fluffy kitty on the top. This is where Jess went if its the place in Jersey. But you didnt get it from me because the pups arent supposed to know about it.
Smitty stared at the address. How do you know shell be here?
I heard her talking to my mom and Sabina.
Can you tell me why she left?
She said she needed some time to think, which isnt necessarily a bad thing. Thinkings good.
Not in his case. In that moment, Smitty realized this would be his last chance to get Jessie Ann. If he didnt make her his now, hed lose her to the Sherman Landrys of the world. Thanks, Kristan.
He walked toward the valets in order to get his truck when Kristan called to him. He looked at her and she held up both thumbs. Good luck!
Smitty smiled. Johnny DeSerio didnt stand a chance with this one. Thanks, darlin.
Hands on hips, Kristan turned around and glared at Johnny, one foot tapping. She could see the bruises on the idiots throat, and she knew hed be wearing them proudly for as long as they lasted. You enjoyed that, didnt you?
Johnny smirked, embarrassed, and said, Well, it kind of made me feel like, ya know... a wolf. It was cool.
Kristan rolled her eyes and, walking away, sighed out, Youre an idiot.
Jess paused her game and pulled off her headphones. Someone was knocking.
She yawned and dropped the headphones on the desk, pushing her seat back by bracing her hands against it and shoving. The chair rolled back and then spun around. She stood and headed toward the front door.
Assuming the groceries shed ordered had arrived, Jess pulled open the door and stared.
Afternoon, Jessie Ann.
Wow. Apparently his mother had been right. Especially with that barely controlled anger on his face. He even had a whole ticking jaw thing going on. Shed seen Smitty annoyed, exasperated, frustratedbut never pissed. Not like this.
Smitty didnt even wait for her response, he simply walked in.
What are you doing here?
Came to see you. He looked around the hallway and whistled. Yall have the nicest homes.
Jess closed the door. You werent invited.
Wolves rarely are, darlin.
He turned and faced her. You look real casual.
Her sweatpants had holes, as did her nearly twenty-year-old Raiders of the Lost Ark T-shirt. She wore heavy socks to keep her feet warm and, for some unknown reason, had put her hair in two pigtails.
I wasnt expecting company. This soon.
Then you shouldnt have opened the door without asking who it was.
Jess bit back her retort and watched Smitty wander off down the hall and into the kitchen. She followed and found him staring into her refrigerator.
You sure dont have much, he chastised. And theres a storm coming.
I know. Im waiting on a grocery delivery. And I know theres a storm coming. Thats why you should get back to the city before you get trapped out on the road. Cause youre not staying here.
Smitty sighed, loudly, and slammed the refrigerator door shut. I have to say, Jessie Ann, I am running out of patience.
Jess laughed. Really? Are you?
Im not leaving, Jessie Ann. Not until we talk this out. Nice and proper.
Nice and proper? Uh-huh. She turned and headed back up the hall.
Where are you going? he demanded from behind her.
Smitty stood in front of the Kingston Arms. He couldnt seem to track his little wild dog down, and she wasnt answering her cell phone. He had to find her. Hed make her take his apology, although he still wasnt sure what hed done wrong. And once he had all that settled, hed take her to the Ritz-Carlton tonight. Get her the best room his credit card could afford and hed make her his. Hed do this right. Shed never regret being his.
Shes gone.
Turning around, Smitty stared at Johnny DeSerio.
What do you mean shes gone?
She left.
Went back to the den? Or the Long Island house?
Neither. The Pack has this little house in Jersey. The adults little love shack when they need some away time from the pups.
Where is it?
The boy shrugged.
You dont know?
Oh, I know. Im just not telling you.
Smitty had his hand around the boys throat and had him slammed against the wall in less time than it took to say Ow.
Listen up close, boy, cause Ill only say this once. These dogs may protect you, but Im wolf. Just like you. And we both know Ill rip the flesh from your bones if you dont tell me what I wanna know.
A delicate throat clearing had Smitty looking over his shoulder even as he tightened his grip a bit more on the boys throat.
Kristan smiled up at him. Take your hand off his throat, she said softly.
If this had been one of the adults, he would have ignored them, but sweet little Kristan... well, he simply didnt have the heart. So, grudgingly, he let the boy go.
Here. She took hold of his hand and wrote on his palm with a pink felt-tip pen that had a fluffy kitty on the top. This is where Jess went if its the place in Jersey. But you didnt get it from me because the pups arent supposed to know about it.
Smitty stared at the address. How do you know shell be here?
I heard her talking to my mom and Sabina.
Can you tell me why she left?
She said she needed some time to think, which isnt necessarily a bad thing. Thinkings good.
Not in his case. In that moment, Smitty realized this would be his last chance to get Jessie Ann. If he didnt make her his now, hed lose her to the Sherman Landrys of the world. Thanks, Kristan.
He walked toward the valets in order to get his truck when Kristan called to him. He looked at her and she held up both thumbs. Good luck!
Smitty smiled. Johnny DeSerio didnt stand a chance with this one. Thanks, darlin.
Hands on hips, Kristan turned around and glared at Johnny, one foot tapping. She could see the bruises on the idiots throat, and she knew hed be wearing them proudly for as long as they lasted. You enjoyed that, didnt you?
Johnny smirked, embarrassed, and said, Well, it kind of made me feel like, ya know... a wolf. It was cool.
Kristan rolled her eyes and, walking away, sighed out, Youre an idiot.
Jess paused her game and pulled off her headphones. Someone was knocking.
She yawned and dropped the headphones on the desk, pushing her seat back by bracing her hands against it and shoving. The chair rolled back and then spun around. She stood and headed toward the front door.
Assuming the groceries shed ordered had arrived, Jess pulled open the door and stared.
Afternoon, Jessie Ann.
Wow. Apparently his mother had been right. Especially with that barely controlled anger on his face. He even had a whole ticking jaw thing going on. Shed seen Smitty annoyed, exasperated, frustratedbut never pissed. Not like this.
Smitty didnt even wait for her response, he simply walked in.
What are you doing here?
Came to see you. He looked around the hallway and whistled. Yall have the nicest homes.
Jess closed the door. You werent invited.
Wolves rarely are, darlin.
He turned and faced her. You look real casual.
Her sweatpants had holes, as did her nearly twenty-year-old Raiders of the Lost Ark T-shirt. She wore heavy socks to keep her feet warm and, for some unknown reason, had put her hair in two pigtails.
I wasnt expecting company. This soon.
Then you shouldnt have opened the door without asking who it was.
Jess bit back her retort and watched Smitty wander off down the hall and into the kitchen. She followed and found him staring into her refrigerator.
You sure dont have much, he chastised. And theres a storm coming.
I know. Im waiting on a grocery delivery. And I know theres a storm coming. Thats why you should get back to the city before you get trapped out on the road. Cause youre not staying here.
Smitty sighed, loudly, and slammed the refrigerator door shut. I have to say, Jessie Ann, I am running out of patience.
Jess laughed. Really? Are you?
Im not leaving, Jessie Ann. Not until we talk this out. Nice and proper.
Nice and proper? Uh-huh. She turned and headed back up the hall.
Where are you going? he demanded from behind her.
